Process and apparatus for making slide fasteners



Feb. 8, 1938. F. P. MILLER 24,108,008

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS Filed June 22, 1934 Flix rotate in `the direction of travel of the newly formedfastener elements and thus maintain taut the strip of such elements. Clearly, the purpose and nature of the bufdng elements 3l is such that the same are required to rotate at a much faster peripheral speed than the speed of travel-of the strip of fastener elements. l

As brought out in the opening paragraphs of this specification, the punching operation leaves the fastener elements with rather sharp edges and numerous burs which, unless removed, interfere with the smooth operation of the slider by which complemental rows Offastener elements are brought into interdigitating relation. Also. such burs and sharps edges frequently snag the sheer and other fabrics with which the same come in contact.

'Ihe simple and inexpensive removal of these burs and sharp edges has always been a problem in this industry, and it has been found that the mounting of the bufilng unit I! as suggested in Figure 1, provides for the removal of these burs and sharp edges from the newly formed fastener elementsfcoincident with the yoperation of the punch for the formation of additional fastener elements and without appreciably increasing the cost' of manufacture.

The performance of the bufling operation immediately after the ypunching operation provides for the removal of burs and sharp edges while the fastener elements are in the most convenient Vform for presentation to the buiiing wheels, and,

of course, no separate handling ofthe elements is required for this bufiing operation. This also avoids the need'of special reeling and unreelingof the, strip of` fastener elements for buiiing purposes.

'/Ihe various fastenerv elements are shown in Figure 8 to be arranged in edge toedge 'relation with the major portions thereof, particularly the edges thereof, free for engagement by the bufiing elements III. i

It lathe outer longitudinal. edges of the jaws of the various fastener elements that are initially joined by webs or feather-like connections Il. Of course, the webs ll are removed as a subsequent step in manufacture and leave minor and negligible portions of the edges of the fastenerl elements without thefbenefit of the buiiing operation. y Such minor and negligible portions of thefastener elements as are left without the benefit of the builing operation are inconsequential and in no manner interfere. with the freedom of operation of the slider on the completed fastener. Thus, I believe that I am the first to provide for the bufilng of the fastener elements while still in strip form and mutually connected and to appreciate that the buiiing operation may be advantageously performed while the fastener elements are still in strip form as distinguished from subjecting the same to an all-.over bufilng.

From the bufilng unit 32, the strip 'of fastener elements is delivered to a reel 40. From Figure 2, it will be seen that the distance between the end walls of the reel 40 is only htly greater than the width of thefribbon from which the fastener elements are formed. 'Ihis requires that the strip of fastener element be coiled upon the reel with each succeeding coil or convolution arranged radially outward of the previously wound coil or convolution. This arrangement of the strip of fastener element avoids entanglement of the fastener elements. If the strip of fastener elements were wound upon the reel 4l in helical fashion, vor side by side, as sewing threadis wound upon `an ordinary spool, there would be likelihood of entanglement of the various fastenerelements. This is to be avoided. With the strip of newly formed and bufied fastener elements thus coiled upon the reel 4l,

such fastener elements may be colored ordyed to harmonize with the color of the garmentsor 1 other articles plied.

After the coloring or dyeing operation, as one step in the process of manufacture, the fastener elements, still in strip form, may be transferred to which the same are to be gpfrom the reel IB to an assembly drum or cylinder 50, this being shown in.Figure 3'.

The drum 50 is shown to be provided with a peripheral helical groove 52 extending from substantially one e d of the drum to the vother end thereof, and being of a width to snugly 'receive the fastener elements.

I 'I'he member 50 may be rotated' by hand or otherwise and has driving connection with a feed.

screw 5I through the intervention of a train of gears 5. It is'illustrated in Figure 3. that the feed screw M has mounted thereon a' guiding element I8 inoperative relation to the strip of 'fastener elements so as to guide such strip onto the assembly vdrum lli. Of course, the pitch of the thread upon the feed screw I4 is the same as-the pitch-of the helical groove l2 to cause the member Il to advance at the proper rate, always' in the required feeding relation to the peripheral helical groove I2.-

Referring now toFigure 6, it'will be seen lthat the strip of fastener elements is wound upon the drum Il with the' nose portions -of the various fastener elements presented radially inward. At

spaced points about the periphery of the drum il, there "will be found aligning or registering strips I2 having somewhat tapered outer edge tener elements are presented radially outward,

and it will be seen that the employment of the strips 62 has the eil'ect of establishing longitudinal alignment between the various longitudinal rows of fastener elements.

With the strip of connected fastener elements thus wound in the helical groove 52, the strip of fastener elements will be found to have the form of a number of connected helical convolutions. Such mounting of the strip of fastener elements upon the drum defines an annular series of parallel,l circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending vrows of fastener elements with all the jaws of the fastener elements in each row in longitudinal alignment for the reception of mounting tapes 10.

By way of further reference'to the strips 62, attention is invited to Figure 5 in which it is illustrated that such strips extend longitudinally of the drum 50 or parallel to the longitudinal axis of such drum, and project into the helical.

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ment `of the same with certain of the fastener' elements after the fashion suggested in Figures 5 and 6 has the effect of aligning or registering In reviewing the mounting of the fastener elements upon the drum 50, it will be seen that the strip f such elements is arranged in the helical groove 52 so as to dene a plurality of longitudi nally spaced', circumferentially extending convolutions with the fastener elements of each convolution spacedx from the longitudinally adjacent fastener elements by the ribs between the convolutions of the 'groove 52 todefine, in effect, an annular series of circumferentially spaced, longitudinallyA extending rows of fastener elements in' which the jaws thereof are presented radially` outward and are aligned for connection with the fastener tapes 1U.

In Figures e and 7, it is illustrated that tine` fastener strips are snugly received in the helical groove 52 with the area. of contact between the fastener elements and the side walls of th`e groove sufiicient to hold the fastener elements securely in place while being associated with the tapes. In this connection, there is to be considered the fact that the still present web connection between the fastener elements serves as a mutual bracing arrangement for the fastener elements. At the same time, the strips $2, while` servingas aligning devices, offer material assistance in holding the fastener elements in position for engagement by the tapes 10. 4

It should be noted thatv the mounting of the strip of fastener elements in helical form about the periphery of the drum 58 with the jaw portons of the fastener elements presented radially outward has the effect of temporarily increasing the space between complemental jaws ofthe fastener elements to provide temporarily enlarged entrance openings for the fastening tapes.

By reference to Figures 5 and 7, it will be seen that the ribs between the convolutions of the helical groove 52 are formed with registering longitudinally extending grooves with which the spaces between the jaws of the fasteners are in line. This allows of the easy connection of the tapes ill with the jaws of the vvarious fastener elements.

With the strip of fastener elements wound in helical form about the periphery of the drum and the tapes 'lll initially and loosely connected to the.l

longitudinally aligned fastener elements, the entire mass about the periphery of the cylinder 50 is subjected to a single longitudinal cut. This cutis made along one series of webs 38. This allows the mass of fastener elements arranged about the periphery'of the drum 50 to be removed and attened out and subjected to an appropriate operation by which the jaws of the individual fastener elements are pressed into binding engagement with the adjacent portions of .the attaching tapes, after which, the rows of fastener elements and the associated tapes vare ready `for final assembly in the finished slide fastener.

In the form of strip or blank shown in Figure 9, the various fastener elements 80 have featherlike connections at the nose portions thereof with a supporting strip 82, such supporting strip constituting a temporary vehicle for the fastener elements, and at the same time,y providing a means by which the fastener elements are spaced in the proper order about the periphery of the drum 9|! with the jaw portions of the fastener elements presented radially outward for connection with the mounting tapes. j

It is further illustrated in Figure 9, that the inner edge of the strip 8 2 is formed with spaced notches 84, some of which receive the aligning or registering strips 86 corresponding to the strips 62. Of course, these strips 86 extend longitudinally of the drum 90 at spaced points about the periphery of the drum and provide a means by which the fastener elements of a particular convolution of such fastener elements are accurately aligned with the fastener elements of the longitudinally adjacent convolutions for connection with the longitudinally extending mounting tapes.

The fastener elements 80 shown in Figure 9 may be colored, dyed or plated while in strip form and, of course, the entire surfaces of the fastener elements, except the extreme nose portions thereof will be so treated.

In case the fastenerfelements are not to be colored or coated, the drum 50 may be arranged at the delivery end of the punch press I8 to receive the fastener elements directly therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: Y

1. In an apparatus for arranging a plurality of connected fastener elements in longitudinal alignment for connection with attaching tapes,

a drumhaving a peripheral helical groove for the reception of a plurality of fastener elements in strip form, and a means associated with the drum to arrange the longitudinally adjacent fastener elements in longitudinal alignment.

2. In an apparatus for arranging a plurality of initially connected fastener elements in longitudinal rows for connection with attaching tapes, a drum having a helical peripheral'groove for the reception of a length of connected fastener elements to arrange such length in the form of a plurality of longitudinally spaced convolutions, and means carried by the drum to engage the fastener elements and thus align the same lengthwise of the drum.

3. In an apparatus for arranging a plurality of initially connected slide fastener elements in row form for a connection with tapes, a drum having a helical peripheral groove of a width to snugly receive a plurality of slide fastener elements and thereby arrange the slide fastener elements in the form of .an annular series of circumferentially spaced'longitudinally extending rows, and means extending longitudinally of the drum and engaging the fastener elements to align the longitudinally spacedv fastener elements.

4. In an apparatus for arranging initially connected fastener elements in row form lfor connection of the ljaws of the fastener elements with mounting tapes, a drum having a peripheral helical groove of a depth and width to snugly receive a plurality of fastener elements with the jaw pertions thereof presented radially outward and the nose portions ofthe fastener elements presented radially inward, and strips extending longitudinally ,of the drum and extending between the fastener elements in engagement therewith to align the longitudinally spaced fastener Ielements for connection with a mounting tape.

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5. In an apparatus for arranging initially connected fastener elements in row form for con' nection of the jaws of the fastener elements with mounting tapes, a drum having a peripheral heli- A5 cal groove of a depth and width to snugly receive a plurality of fastener elements with the jaw portions thereof presente'd radially outward and the nose portions of the fastener elements presented radially inward, and strips. extending longitudinally of the' drum and extending between the fastener elements in lengagement therewith to *align the longitudinally spaced fastener elements for connection with a mounting tape. said drum being provided with akplurality of longitudinally extending circumferentiaiiy spaced grooves for the partial reception of mounting tapes.

6.|The herein described method of attaching tapes to'fastener elements in which the fastener elements are initially joined at the jaw portions thereof, which consists in arranging the jaw portions radially outward and bowing the connected fastener elements to temporarily spread the jaws to provide temporarily enlarged entrance openings for the reception vofattaching tapes.

'7. 'Ihe method of assembling a plurality of fasner elements for connection with attaching tapes which consists in winding a strip of connected fastener elementsabout a common axis to form a plurality of initially connected convolutions, and aligning the fastener elements of a,

particular convolution with the fastener elements of contiguous convolutions.

48. The method of assembling a plurality of fastener elements for connection with attaching tapes which consists in winding a strip of connected fastener elements about a common axis to form a'plurality of initially connected convolutions, and engaging the convolutions from the radially inner portions thereof at predetermined 40 spaced points to align -the fastener elements of a particular convolution with the fastener elements of contiguous convolutions.

9. The methodof assembling a plurality of fastener elements for connection with attaching tapes which consists in arranging the fastener elements in the form of a,v plurality of axially aligned convolutions, and longitudinally aligning the fastener elements of each convolution with the fastener elements of the contiguous convolutions.

10. In a structure for arranging a plurality of initially connected fastener elements in rows for 5 connection with attaching tapes, a drum having an outside peripheral surface portion provided with means mounting the said strip of initially connected fastener elements in the form of a plurality of convolutions with substantially uni- 10 form spaces between the convolutions, and aligning devices engaging thefastener elements to align the fastener elements of a particular convolution with those of the contiguous convolutions for connectionwith attaching tapes. l5

11. In a structure for arranging a plurality of initially connected fastener elements in rows for connection with attaching tapes, a drum having an outer peripheral surface portion provided with means mounting thegsaid strip of initially con- 20 nected fastener elements in the form of a plurality of convolutions with substantially uniform spaces between the convolutions, and aligning devices intersecting said means and engaging the fastener elements `to align the fastener elements 25 of a particular convolution with those of the contiguous convolutions for connection with attaching tapes.

v12. In an apparatus for arranging a plurality of initially connected fastenerelements in longi- 30 tudinal rowsfor connection of the jaws of thefastener elementswith attaching tapes, a drum having a peripheral fhelical groove of a depth and width to snugly receive a strip of connected fastener elements with the openv 4jaw portions 35 thereof presented radially outward and the nose" portions of the fastener elements presented radi-- ally inward, and means associated with the drum to align the longitudinally spaced fastener elements for connection with attaching tapes, said 40V drum being provided h a plurality of longitudinally extending, c cumferentially spaced grooves registering with the spaces between the jaws of the longitudinally aligned fastener elements and adapted for the partial reception of 45 attaching tapes. v l

FRANK P. MILLER. 

